Benefits

When Dr. Samuel Golden, director of NASA appeared before a congressional committee to request the appropriations for the international space station, he informed Congress that a space station that could produce simulated gravity would be preferable to a space station that could not, due to the medical conditions that arise from prolonged exposure to weightlessness. He told Congress that a space station that could produce simulated gravity, would allow people to stay in space longer than one that could not. Unfortunately Congress did not have the budget for a space station of this kind so a compromise was made and we now have what we have.

Constructing a space station in the manner I propose allows the construction of a space station in the form of a tubular ring. This particular shape lends itself easily to the creation of a space station that can rotate and provide simulated gravity. In addition to this there are other benefits to having the ability to build things in space in the manner I propose and they are as follows:

1. Building in space only requires building materials to be launched, rather than completed structural forms which take up a lot of space.

2. The method of construction I propose produces components of a standardized cross sectional area for what ever application is desired.

3. The knitting robot can be easily re-supplied with additional construction materials using the Delta rocket.

4. The knitting robot can easily be controlled from the ground and through automation programs, eliminating the need for human involvement in construction.

5. Once the knitting robot is deployed it can remain in space indefinitely, allowing it to build whatever is desired, such as large rockets for deep space exploration.

6. The method of construction I propose uses a balloon inflated with compressed air, which is used as a mandrel, to produce the desired shape (rings and cylinders). Because they are inflated with compressed air to 14.7 psi these structures are immediately habitable without additional work or materials.

7. Because the shape of structures are standardized, components such as airlocks and maneuvering thrusters can be created on the ground, launched into space, and glued into place using epoxy resin.

8. Construction on the ground would require an autoclave or hot bond and vacuum bagging techniques. Construction in the vacuum of space does not.

9. Various styles of weaving can be used to to produce fabrics that possess specific structural qualities.